Question to 737-700 drivers
 

If ATC gives you a 160 to 4DME speed restriction for the approach do you need to lower the gear?

The reason I ask is because I was returning to EGGW from LFPG the other night and I think that were on the LOREL arrival that routed up the West of London towards WOD and then on for the approach for the 08 (I'm guessing as it was v. cloudy).

The gear was lowered much earlier than I had seen before and I wondered whether or not this was to comply with a speed restriction.

Any info is much appreciated.

???pax

No. Would only need to lower gear at flap 15, that speed depends on what the speed tape tells you is the min speed for flap 10 (which depends on a/c mass). (I think) you can always go slower than 160kts with flap 10.

Although, if you're up to max landing mass, it can come close to 160. And if it's a bit bumpy, I probably feel more comfortable with flaps 15 (and gear down, of course).

But there may have been other reasons for the pilot to select gear down/flaps 15 (or more), e.g. descent gradient and/or deceleration issues.

Many thanks for the speedy responses people.

In a -700 160kts is possible at most weights with Flap 5. It can get a little 'slippery' though and Flap 10 is a little more comfortable.

If it was vvv cloudy the other night, ie: requiring a Cat 3 approach, then good airmanship would suggest a more academic approach and thus lowering the gear a little earlier than usual.

It just helps to get a nice stable approach very early on to give you less to think about in the latter stages.

Of course, ATC might have asked for 'min approach speed' in order to get another aircraft off the ground.

It was cloudy. For those of you who know the area I reckon we broke into the clear when we just passed over Whipsnade.

It might have been a rookie, like me, getting plenty of comfort built in by doing things a bit too early. Otherwise they may have needed to slow down and go down, something the 700 does not like doing, hence the extra drag required.

Had it been a 300 they would need to lower the gear and select flap 15 to slow down to 160 kts.